Name: Sara, aka Single Gal with RA
Age: 30
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 2 years
Superhero Powers: Living with RA all by myself, writing a blog/column, being a comic strip character, traveling the world, baking, supporting the work of contemporary artists in a capitalist world
Superhero Headquarters: New York City/Baltimore

Name: Cathy
Age: 41
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: Five and a half years
Superhero Powers: Fighting the evil forces of RA medication free, blogging about the ups and downs of RA and alternative medicine among many other things, informing the world of the wonders of homeschooling two children, a wife (pretty amazing one too if you ask me), a woman learning to appreciate who she is, and much much more. More of my powers are realized each and every day.
Superhero Headquarters: Chicago Suburbs

Name: MissDazey
Age: 67, and counting
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal aka Dizzy, Your RA Super Humor Hero
Superhero Experience: 40 years
Superhero Powers: Making my life count for something more than RA,OA and being old. Encourager, cheerleader, shoulder to lean on for young people with arthritis and RA. Listener for the older crowd who have arthritis and RA. We are survivors of many thing including ails and pains.
Superhero Headquarters: Missouri Ozarks.

Name: Cammie
Age: 47
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 3 years
Superhero Powers: Mother of three college age boys, wife of 26 years, mom to 2 dogs, 2 cats, an assorted bunch of fish and any stray that happens our way. Loves to cook and to can Salsas. I love to sew and read books. I Can read, write and speak Spanish. On a mission to control RA and not to let RA control me.
Superhero Headquarters: Arizona

Name: Diane
Age: 48
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis G’MA
Superhero Experience: 31 years
Superhero Powers: Accepting RA as a part of who I am. Finding peace and happiness despite the physical issues. Concentrating on the many joys and blessings in my life. Staying positive and happy is the best medicine!
superhero Headquarters: UTAH

Name: Stephanie
Age: 31
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
SuperHero Experience: 7 months
SuperHero Powers: As of now but could change : knowing what i can and can not do. I can take super naps!! I am a wanna be blogger and an ultimate crafter. I can make anyone laugh!!
Super Hero headquarters: Fullerton, Ca

Name: CoastieWife
Age: 26
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: About a year and a half and counting
Superhero Powers: living with RA, learning how to accept RA, cooking & baking, photography as a hobby & stress reliever, being a PROUD military wife, having a wonderful husband, momma to a wonderful furbaby, having a positive outlook on life…more are added everyday as I realize what my mind and body are capable of!
Superhero Headquarters: Astoria, Oregon

Name: Wende
Age: 39
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: Almost two years.
Superhero Powers: Living with RA, working full-time in the crazy hr/telecom world, mother to my three boys, figuring which medical concoction works for now, staying chipper despite wanting to go back to bed, recent subscriber of “arthritis today” which I thought was for “old” people, trying not to get fat, kissing my lovely husband
Superhero Headquarters: Seattle

Name: Tharr
Age: 51
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy
Superhero Experience: 6 years
Superhero Powers: Carrying on a semi-normal lifestyle while living with RA. I work a 12 hour shift 4 days a week as a pressman (printing), take care of a 3.5 acre yard, ride off-road motorcycles and workout 4 days a week. Every superhero has a sidekick …right? My sidekick buddy that helps me is a Great Pyrenees with a mohawk named Frankie. (Frank’s photo with his mohawk is on my blog page.)
Superhero Headquarters: Tornado Alley Oklahoma

Name: Lana
Age: 33
Superhero Type: Working Mother (with RA and Fibromyalgia)Who Loves Her Kids and never stops
Superhero Experience: two years
Superhero Powers: Living with RA and Fibro, being a mom, loving life
Superhero Headquarters: NE Ohio

Name: Kevin
Age: 29
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy
Superhero Experience: Diagnosed 2008
Superhero Powers: Work long hours in a warehouse pulling orders, being a dad of a 12, 6, and 5 y/o. Have a great sense of humor when it comes to most things, always good for a few laughs.
Superhero Headquarters: Upstate NY

Name: Laura
Age: 21
Superhero Type: Fibromyalgia Girl
Superhero Experience: 3 years (Officially? 3 weeks…)
Superhero Powers: Daughter of Diabetes Gal and niece to her sister, RA/FM Gal. Became Autoimmune Girl my freshman year of college and most recently leveled up to FM Girl. Working to support myself and being a student is hard but my will is strong. I’m also glad to be an advocate and voice for people with invisible disease to people of my age group.
Superhero Headquarters: Dallas, TX but relocating to Austin on 8/15/09.

Name: Ashley A.k.a Raandme
Age: 24
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 4 1/2 years
Superhero Powers: Just trying to get my body back in fighting order so I can finish college. I live with and care for my autistic brother. Have more hobbies than there are hours in the day. I love my life. R.A. or not.
Superhero Headquarters: Texas

Name: Jan
Age: 47
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 2 years
Superhero Powers: Learning how to deal. Mom of a fabulous daughter with Down Syndrome who will always live with me! Worrying..Lot’s of worrying. Working 12 hour shifts in the ER on my feet for 13 hours.
Superhero Headquarters: Summerville, South Carolina

Name: Rheann, aka RockinRhea
Age: 51
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 20 years of many ups & downs
Superhero Powers: Continue the RA journey refusing to let it ruin my happy life; Mother of two grown children; Licensed Ins Agent, working full time in sales & marketing; Care, love & keep up with my 2 Doberman Pinschers; Care, love & keep up with my husband who started this journey with me only a few months after we married; I have a very large vegetable garden which brings me peace & self-worth; I love to read, swim, cook, bake, and take care of my home. I have a positive attitude & freely share it.
Superhero Headquarters: Mesquite/Texas

Name: Wren
Age: 53
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid arthritis gal
Superhero Experience: 22 years
Superhero Powers: Worked full time as a journalist, raised a daughter, takes care of disabled husband, cooks, cleans, shops, gardens, and is a freelance writer and editor. Appreciates the gifts that the world offers each day to those who take the time to look…
Superhero headquarters: Camino, California

Name: Barbarella
Age: 43 and a half
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis/Fibromyalgia Gal
Superhero Experience: 3 years (RA) / 15 years (fibro)
Superhero Powers: Feline & Other Animal Communications. No human partner, but living with her 3 Superhero Cats (Spider, Lugosi & Ruby) who she finds tolerate her chronic illness so much better than any human that she has met. Works from home as a web & graphic designer. Hobby (and sometimes paid) photographer (has a couple of photography websites to show off her pictures).
Superhero Headquarters: Lanzarote, Canary Islands (autonomous region of Spain off the West Coast of Africa).

Name: Peter
Age: 29
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy
Superhero Experience: Only eight long years
Superhero Powers: Living with RA (mild to moderate these days), educating people that not all people with Arthritis have Rheumatoid…ahem…anyways, working for the Government, chilling with friends, spending quality time with my family.
Superhero Headquarters: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Name: Alecia
Age: 26
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: Just getting started
Superhero Powers: Research, research and more research, saving the world one germ at a time (in the military), killing zombies
Superhero Headquarters: Clovis, New Mexico

Name: GlasgowGal
Age: 38
Superhero Type: Juvenile Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 30, yes 30, years and counting….!
Superhero Powers: surviving 2 hip replacements; being married ; working full time; employing Personal Assistants; getting on with life; cooking; crafting; educating people that disability is not something to be scared of! independence is a state of mind, not a list of tasks to be completed; watcher of Star Trek, especially Voyager
Superhero Slogan: make it so…..
Superhero HQ: Glasgow, Scotland, UK.

Name: RoboJo
Age: 43
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 17 years
Superhero Powers: Being crazy I love to make folks laugh and smile as it’s a great medicine, having a bionic knee, hip, screws in feet, waiting on new shoulders and knuckles. Complete and utter geek lover of pooters and video games. Into Goth/Metal/Rock music. Do talks about RA to medical students and generally try to raise awareness.
Superhero Slogan: No I won’t fix your computer..
Superhero HQ: Birmingham, UK.

Name: awellsdba
Age: 44
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 3 months that I’ve known about
Superhero Powers: Being just a little odd… being perpetually young at heart; having a dead guy (cadaver bone) in my ‘boo boo’ arm; would be marathon walker; being married; being a mom; believing that I can… and making sure that everyone I know knows about RA and knows that WE can.
Superhero Slogan: There are no girl toys, there are no boy toys, there are JUST toys… (RoboJo… I can SO relate… I’m a total geek too… dba stands for database administrator… and I’m the mom of a kind of goth)
Superhero HQ: Central Texas

Name: Andy
Age: 40
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy
Superhero Experience: since Feb 2009
Superhero Powers: working full time and being a waterman ! my ability to mind surf as I can,t physically , YET !
Superhero Slogan: LOVE THE OCEAN , IN IT , ON IT OR UNDER IT
Superhero HQ: Perth , Western Australia

Roz
Name: Rosalyn
Age: 39 and a half
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 3 years
Superhero Powers: Enjoying every single day as you never know what life will bring, smiling through that Enbrel sting, learning about myself through travel and introspection, keeping weight on this body and running when my right foot will allow it!
Superhero Slogan: Enjoy..
Superhero HQ: San Jose, California

Name: Jill
Age: 42
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 20 years
Superhero Powers: Mother of two gorgeous and brilliant children (boy – 13, girl – 12) and one 3 year old Yorkie who sits on my lap and comforts me on my bad days. Owner of two titanium shoulders, with cadaver bone grafts, one fused wrist with metal rods, one foot with screws, the other foot -soon to be fused. Fatigue fighting and staying healthy are two Superhero Powers that I need work on. Close relationships with several amazing doctors/friends!
Superhero Slogan: One day at a time
Superhero HQ: Medfield, MA

Name: Shweta
Age: 26
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Basher
Superhero Experience: Six n a half years
Superhero Powers: A Law School Graduate….smiling, having fun and simply being fabulous…no matter what!!
Superhero slogan: Each day is a chance to say that I am not scared!
Superhero website: http://www.croppinghead.blogspot.com/
Superhero Headquarters: All over India

Name: Theresa
Age: 46
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 2 Years
Superhero Powers: Getting up and going to work each day, taking care of my family and feeling pretty well and praying to stay that way.
Superhero North Texas

Name: Ariel
Age: 18
Superhero Type: Spondyloarthropathy Gal
Superhero Experience: 1 year
Superhero Powers: Full-time college student at a university. Big/little sister, and soon-to-be aunt. I’m a teenager living life to the fullest; no matter what my disease sends my way. Artist and writer, even on days when my hands hurt almost too badly to pick up a pencil. I’ve overcome my fear of needles with Enbrel. Also, raising awareness about all types of arthritis.
Superhero slogan: With each new day come challenges with bring new adventures and build strength.
Superhero Headquarters: Houston, TX

Name: Christina
Age: 36
Superhero Type: RA mom, wife, student
Superhero Experience: 20 years
Superhero Headquarter: New Orleans, Louisiana
Superhero Powers: Fighting fatigue to keep going. Pouring from a gallon of milk, by using the edge of a table or countertop. Using a supercool electric toothbrush, because a regular one hurts to hold.

Name: Rachel
Age: 40
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal Extraordinaire
Superhero Experience: 21 years
Superhero Powers: Ability to make a pun about just about anything (it’s called Pununciation Disorder); love my friends and family, still working (though wish it wasn’t so hard to wake up in the mornings), love my crazy cat Willow, and wish that I had the time and energy to write that novel that’s been banging around in my head for years. One titanium knuckle, every limb decorated with delightful scarring from operations to straighten and fix limbs/joints, awaiting my first hip replacement. I am also a superhero because I survived two burst brain aneurysms 4 years ago – with no damage, unlike the RA. So hoorah for all of our superhero powers!
Superhero Headquarters: Melbourne, Australia.

Name: Terri
Age: 44
Superhero type: RA Gal
Superhero Experience: 35+ Years
Superhero Powers: Invisibility and positivity cloak; a more than full time exec at a fortune 500 that keeps a smile on her face and can find the silver lining in any situation; spurred on by the faces and love of two small grandchildren that remind me of what really matters in life – staying strong and positive so I can enjoy them for years to come
Superhelo Headquarters: Western Suburb of Chicago

Name: Seeking Solace
Age: 42
Superhero Type: RA Gal
Superhero Experience: 10 years
Superhero Powers: Former attorney practicing in the toughest area of law there is…family and matrimonial law. Currently a college professor corrupting young legal minds at an undergraduate college. Loving wife to the world’s greatest husband/caregiver and mom to the world’s coolest dog.
Superhero Headquarters: Elsewhere in the Southeast

Name: ChileKat
Age: 62
Su0erhero Type: RA Gal
Superhero Experience: 16 years
Superhero Powers: Upbeat and nearly always smiling and happy. Work full-time and love it. I have 3 fabulous grandchildren who love me to bits and are my very heart and soul. RA will not take that away from me!
Superhero Headquarters: Bellevue, Nebraska

Name: Laura
Age: 29
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 1 year
Superhero Powers: Communicating how I’m feeling and what I’m going through to the people in my life, without guilt. Not being afraid to tell my non-loved ones (co-workers, aquaintances) that I have RA, and explaining what it is so that they might better understand me.
Superhero Headquarters: New York City

Superhero Powers: Learning to live with RA, Positive thinking, Telling people about RA, Loving life, My pets, Finding the right
treatment so I can go back to work, My very understanding partner and friends, My walking stick and wheelchair.

Name: Arlene
Age: 41
Superhero Type: Autoimmune Gal
Superhero Experience: 8 years
Superhero Powers: Living with Fibromyalgia, RA, IBS, CFS, and anemia, working as a full-time high school English teacher and a mother of 6 children, coping with people who lack understanding about the degree of my pain and how debilitating it can be at times, helping others, and thinking positively
Superhero Headquarters: Victoria, Texas USA

Name: Claire
Age: 28
Superhero Type: RA adventurer
Superhero Experience: 7 months
Superhero Powers: Ultra runner turned weightlifter when possible – even if the weights have to be strapped on when the grip strength isn’t there! Martial artist who’s figuring out how to practice from an occasional wheelchair. It’s cane-fu. Super powers of patience recently learned, mainly used to explain RA. New powers also include the ability to work full time whilst really just wanting a job in a sleep lab.
Superhero Headquarters: Birmingham, UK.

Name: Lori
Age: 44
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 3 Years
Superhero Powers: Learning to live with RA and my new “needs”. Learning that medication is a “need” now. No more missed doses. Learning to make exercise a “need” now. The wrong kind does do harm. Learning to eat specific foods is a “need” now. Learning that I “need” help in that catagory. Learning I need help with not being so afraid of the future RA has for me.
Superhero Headquarters: Florida

Name: Lizz
Age: 30
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Working Mom
Superhero Experience: Almost 3 years.
Superhero Powers: Having patience with the people around me trying to understand my disease, Learning my new limitations and learning how to not let them limit me!
Superhero’s Superhero: Any one who lives with pain and still carries on!!!
Superhero Headquarters: McCleary, WA.

Name: katgirl
Age: 39
Superhero Type: rheumatoid arthritis gal
Superhero Experience: 14 years
Superhero powers: loving life in so much pain, patience with understanding and explaining RA, self-forgiveness when I have to do less than I’d like, laughing, laughing, laughing!
Superhero’s Superhero: Tim King & everyone who keeps on keeping on with pain and fatigue.
Superhero Headquarters: Oakland, CA

Name: Rosie
Age: 53
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Widowed Lady
Superhero Experience: 15+ years
Superhero Powers: Living with RA, Psoriasis & Fibromyalgia. I love to paint with acrylics and enjoy photography. And adore my grandson who’s 2 and brightens my day more than anything else can. Learning to except that I may not be able to work much longer and trying to figure out what will I do if disability don’t kick in quick enough. One thing for sure, the pain reminds me that I’m very much ALIVE. Counting my BLESSINGS.
Superhero Headquarters: New Orleans, LA. (Meraux, LA.)

Name: Bonnie
Age: 60
Superhero Type: rheumatoid arthritis gal
Superhero Experience: 3 years
Superhero powers: Wonderwoman Nana of 6 incredible grandchildren whom I adore, proud mother of 2 fantastic grownup children, Flea Market junkie, treasure hunting at thrift store maniac, collector extrodinaire, techno freak, lover of learning, Facebook fanatic finding old friends galore and Farmvilling myself to death, avid reader and online searcher for RA information and waitng for THE CURE! Most of my RA days are not so bad at all, taking MTX and occasionally prednisone for flare ups, ignoring any pain until it gets too bad to ignore any longer, going on about my life as best I can, keeping my glass half full rather than half empty, looking forward to warm weather. I have been working in education for a number of years until I lost my most recent position at a college via the underground, beaurocratic railroad I didin’t know existed until then. Finished a Master’s Degree in educational technology in May 2010 in an attempt to find a better paying job which has been elusive since my graduation. My age does not help with that situation, but I keep looking and applying to positions all over the warm parts of the US. Anyone need a brand new educational/instructional technologist?
I don’t like having RA, but it has not changed me all that much. There are some things I can’t do very well any more, but that’s okay – my daughter, bless her heart, comes over to help me out 2 days a week and I get the pleasure of her company and that of her 2 little ones when she is here. My husband does not understand that I now have some limitations and still expects me to be able to do things I used to do with ease, which I can’t always do. He does not “get” RA at all and is not willing to educate himself about this disease no matter how many articles I print out for him to read. That’s the hardest part of having RA for me, family not getting it and not trying to learn and understand what goes on in this body of mine. Right now I am doing pretty well except for some pain in my left hip joint, some parethesia in my fingertips (maybe a B-12 deficiency), huge Vitamin D deficiency for which I am taking massive doses extra D (I have a hard time dealing with the cold we’ve had this winter and don’t got out much when it is freezing out there, thus the lack of D), and perhaps a pinched nerve in my lower back that tends to make my left foot and leg go numb at times. But heck, I’m almost 61 and doing okay for an RA gal – no use to complain, it could be much worse. I also have Osteo Arthritis which began at an early age after losing an argument with a horse and ending up on the ground knees first. Three scopes and 2 knee replacements later, the knees are in much better shape than they have been for many years. It seems as though the RA can no longer get inside those knees, but it does sometimes flare up around them. However, it can no longer keep me from being able to walk since the joint is now metal – HA! I win! For anyone considering knee replacemnt, I can’t recommend it enough. It is a very painful procedure, but the pain is easily managed and eases off pretty quickly. Physical therapy is a must to get back as much movement and walking ability as possible – yes, that is painful, too – but well worth the effort in the long run. I have been cane free (mostly) since a few months following the last knee replacement. I would not recommend having both knees done at the same time – it’s much too painful, and very dangerous to do that as the surgery alone can lead to killer blood clots – and we don’t want that!
I have 2 wonderful little dogs that adore me, a feeling that is entirely reciprocated – I love my little dogs! And added benefit to me is that they help keep my feet warm on the sofa when it’s chilly in the house – much better than a blanket or heating pad could ever be! The only real complaint I have is that standing at the sink to wash dishes when I have to can be painful without taking breaks every so often – it tends to make my lower back hurt a lot, which has begun to be affected by the RA more than it was before.
I am not a complainer at all, so if anyone hears me moan or burst out with an OUCH! occasionally, they know something actually is hurting me quite a lot. They do then become empathetic and understanding. Maybe I should start complaining more often – you think that would help them understand what RA and living with it is all about?
Neverthe less, I am in pretty good shape with RA right now. My Rheumatologist wants me to begin Orencia infusions to try to aleve the pain in my right foot that RA is causing, making it difficult to walk at times with shooting, knifelike pains when I’ve been on my feet too long. I’ll try it, but if any of you has had experience with Orencia, I’d appreciate a post somewhere to share your knowlege of the treatment and outcome from it. Thanks so much for doing that.
Meanwhile, life is pretty darned good right now. I hope it is for you as well. RA stinks, but we don’t have to let it run out lives, we need to let it know who is in charge here and make sure that is US!
Superhero Headquarters: Harleyville, SC (near Charleston)

i’m Dan. Have had R/A since 1982. I work part time when able driving a Tour Bus. Times like last week make life difficult. All joints are involved. I live alone and don’t like asking for help but sometimes just need too.I to love it when someone say’s your to young to have Arthritis. I say tell that to the kid’s that have this miserable illness.

Name: Carol
Age: 54
Superhero Type: RA Lady
Superhero Experience: 8 years
Superhero Powers: Still working as PR director for a national hospital company and traveling as much as possible with my wonderful hubby
Superhero Headquarters: Wylie, Texas, USA

Name: Jamie
Age: 44
Superhero Type: RA Gal
Superhero Experience: 3 years
Superhero Poweres: Sign Language interpreter working with deaf students in grades K-12, also interpreting for the Deaf at church and in various settings. My husband is Deaf and I have a son getting ready to graduate from High School and go into the Marines.
Superhero Headquarters: Lubbock, Texas

I was diagnosed with RA in 2008. I have moderate to severe, probably more severe because of the rate at which RA affected me. Within 1-2 months of being diagnosed I was using a cane to walk and could barely get around. I still went to work every day, but in a great deal of pain and limited mobility (which made it difficult to do my job as an interpreter). Thank the Lord the medications I take does help keep it under control, Humira and Methotrexate. I have complete mobility now, but still suffer the occassional flare ups, but nothing like I did before. Right now I am experiencing a lot of neck pain that I had not had before, so we’ll see how I deal with this. I try not to let RA bother me, but I must admit there are times when I hurt, or ache (the kind that you really can’t describe, but you know its there) that I want to cry and wonder if it will get worse. At tmes I do worry about the future and what is in store for me, but this usually only happens when I have a bad day; otherwise, I don’t dwell on it. I like this website and so glad I found it. I put the link to the 60 Second Guide to RA on my Facebook page and I hope that my friends and family will read it and finally understand that this is not your “normal” arthritis that grandma or Auntie Jane suffers from, it is far different from that, and that my stiffness and aches and pains are not like your aches and pains. So hopefully they will get a better understanding of RA.

Name: Nicolette
Superhero Type: Juvenile Arthritis Gal/ Spondyloarthropathy Gal
Superhero Experience: 2 years officially diagnosed but it’s really more like 7 years
Superhero Powers: Being on swim team and color guard even though the doctors said I wouldn’t be able to, being able to get through weekly methotrexate treatments, and getting through a solid 7 year flare with no remissions or breaks.
Superhero Headquarters: USA

Name: Sherry
Age: 59
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis,Lupus, Sjogrens(show-grens), Peripheral Neuropathy, Spondylitis, and Clinical Depression.
Superhero Experience: Diagnosed in 1998, symptoms were mild at first, flares consisted of achy joints, fatigue, low grade fever. Then in 2000 I walked into the tornado, and it flattened me. Guess I thought things would always be the same. Not!
Superhero Powers: Having the smarts to get to a MD pdq, When I hear the tornado coming! Didn’t do that one time, woke up in ICU with a intubation tube in my throat. I had been there three days,
after an overdose of sleeping pills. I am sorry, and I’ll never do it again, but I never thought I’d do it the first time. I found a great psychiatrist that helped me understand the chemical changes in the brain when you have chronic disease, I am on Meds,and I do call her immediately, if I feel out of control at all. SOoo,I guess useing the phone is my super power!!!
Superhero Headquarters: Southeastern shore of NC, USA

Name: Kary
Age: 39
Superhero Type: R.A.w/sjogrens
Superhero Experience: 24 years
Superhero Powers: living with r.a. and it’s deformities, fatigue, taking care of my family (3 kiddos), baking:), cooking, managing to exercise and eat right (even though I love my sweets:)) Still wishing I could make some people understand some days I just can’t do as much as I’d like~
Superhero Headquarters: Willowick (Cleveland), OH

Name:Denus
Age: 34
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Gal
Superhero Experience: I’ve had RA since i was 5yrs old
Superhero Powers:I’ve been living with the deformaties and the fatigue for years but i dont let it stop me…i’m a single mom of two beautiful kids and a nurse and i wil continue to fight this illness with all have for as long as i can
Superhero Headquarters:New Jersey

Name: Kaitlin
Age: 18
Superhero Type: JRA & fibromyalgia gal
Superhero Experience: 4 years
Superhero Powers: Finding the strength to entertain my 9 month old baby brother. Trying to stay positive. NOT laying in bed all the time even though I am so tired. Getting threw the day without sleep. Being able to continue my day even though I could scream from the pain. I am unbreakable
Superhero Headquarters:Sweet Home Alabama

Name: Peppermint Patty
Age: 58
Superhero Type: RA Gal
Superhero Experience: Diagnosed in 2000, eleven years ago
Superhero Powers: wife, mother, grandmother; working 20 hours a week as a fundraiser for a non-profit; trying to accept that I cannot do what I used to do BUT can still do alot and thankful for that. Blessed with a wonderful family, great friends and a very supportive church family.
Superhero Headquarters: Lancaster County, PA

Age: 43. Age at diagnosis: 35.
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 8 years
Superhero Powers: wife of 3 boys, work on my feet 8 x 40. The feat of doing things that have become difficult and somehow managing most of the time.I am also an avid crafter. Scrapbooking, cross stitching, etc. Just went through having my right foot completely re constructed. Hopefully in a month I am waling again and not on wheels! Wrists, shoulders, knees, feet, ankles, and any other joint that decides to join the battle!
Superhero Headquarters: Harlan, Indiana. Suburb of Fort Wayne, Indiana

Name: Bunyip
Age: 39
Superhero Type: RA Gal
Superhero Experience: Have lived with RA for 8 years but have watched my mother who has had RA since I was 5 so have dealt with RA for many years.
Superhero Powers: “denial” it gets me through some days, having a warped sense of humor, loving and living life to the fullest.
Superhero Headquarters: Echuca, Victoria, Australia, Earth

Name: Mary Joly
Age: 51
Superhero Type: RA gal
Superhero Experience: 6 years
Superhero Powers: Wife, mother, mema and sister. Get up everyday no matter how hard it is and make the best of my day. Try to spread the truth about autoimmune diseases….now if I could just get people to listen!!! And helping my daughter and son in law run our very fun dog business.
Superhero Headquarters: Massachusetts

Name: Amanda Gibson
Age: 25
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 15 years diagnosed, sufferer for 23 years.
Superhero Powers: Mom to 2 cats, studying to be a teacher, currently web developer. It’s my hope to one day work with superheroes of all different sorts at the elementary level.
Superhero Headquarters: Twin Cities, MN

Name: Brandy de Cusack
Age: 46
Superhero Type: Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis – depending on which day of the week it is.
Superhero Experience: Over ten years apparently but the disease really started to kick in over the last three years. Firm(ish) diagnosis two years ago.
Superhero Powers: Working, writing horrific gore and sci-fi, photography, organic gardening, dressing up as movie characters and supervillains (!) to scare people for charity
Superhero Headquarters: UK

Name: Tia Canadian
Age: 22
Superhero Type: J.R.A.
Superhero Experience: 7 years
Superhero Powers: I love to cook with my adapted tools. I’m a university student juggling intense school work with the pain and fatigue of J.R.A.. I keep a Positive Mental Attitude about my disease. I’m addicted to tattoos and Monty Python films. Excitedly looking forward to my first full hip replacement. Hoping to one day to help Superheros as a physician. I live with a great team of Superheros; my parents and brothers.
Superhero Headquarters: near Montreal, QC, Canada.

Name: MamaNym
Age: 36
Superhero Type: Psoriatic Arthritis Mama
Superhero Experience: Many years, but recently diagnosed
Superhero Powers: Mama to 5 unschooled kids, childcare provider to up to 4 more, volunteer extraordinaire, advocate, and activist … striving to find balance between being and doing, between taking care of others and taking care of myself – and doing it all with a sense of humor.
Superhero Headquarters: Bristol, CT

Name: IR
Age: 27
Superhero Type: Psoratic Rheumatoid Arthritis (knees, hands, feet)
Superhero Experience: 7 years
Superhero Powers: Active electronic musician that is classically trained by the Royal Conservatory of Music, Canada. I’m also pretty much a geek. I’ve been into computers since I could walk. I have college training as a network administrator, technician and security analysis. I run a few websites on top of that.
Superhero Headquarters: Ottawa, Canada

Name: Melissa
Age: 30
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis, secondary Sjogren’s Syndrome & bilateral hip bursitis
Superhero Experience: “Officially” diagnosed end of June/11, diagnosed in February/11 by GP. Been in pain from bursitis for nearly four years, RA pain for about a year. Dry eyes & mouth that is greatly annoying (I need to drink upwards of 15 cups of water/day to help the dry mouth).
Superhero Powers: I can work 40+ hours a week and then have enough energy to make it back to my apartment to fall into bed and sleep 9 – 10 hours! Sometimes I can manage to knit, enjoy activities outside of the apartment and spend time with friends. On most days I can laugh at myself and what I’m no longer able to do and that helps as much as my meds sometimes I think! When I can’t get out of bed on weekends from working all week I watch a lot of documentaries.
Superhero Headquarters: The lovely Maritimes (east coast of Canada) with it’s extremely wacky weather which frequently makes my RA worse but I love it here!

Name: SKRDad
Age: 43
Superhero Type: RA, FM
Superhero Experience: 5 Years and counting…
Superhero Powers: Work 60+hour/weeks as a Logistics Manager. Father of 3 beautiful children. 16, 13 & 10 years old in order. Coach & on League’s Governing Board for my son’s soccer team. Band Booster’s VP for Daughter #1′s Marching Band. Chaperone for out of town Band Trips for Daughter #2′s middle school band. Husband to the Love of my Life for the past 17 years and counting… Battle the RA Monster but more importantly work very hard so that Husband and Father define me first…
Superhero Headquarters: Scottsdale, Arizona.

Name: Dr Karen
Age: 52…although some days I feel a tad older (other days younger)
Superhero Type:RA, SLE, FMS, APLS, Celiac,
Superhero Experience: Since 1994
Superhero Powers: I have a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, work as a Shrink specializing in Depression and PTSD, and, of course, CHRONIC ILLNESS! I am a single mum of a 16 y/o w/FMS and a Standard Poodle, Molly, who works with my patients. I write 2 blogs (The Couch Trip and “Shrinking” Chronic Illness both on blogspot), am rebuilding my business website for the 8th time!, I tweet, run a FB Page, and try to keep my social media guilt to a minimum.Helping my daughter w/Macrame to sell for The Girl Effect which is her IB BIG project.I am on Retuxin and recently started Cannabis (about 7 weeks ago – yes I am in a state where it is legal for me) which has made a HUGE difference in pain (BUT eat it, don’t smoke it so you get BOTH passes of the medication). I only use it before night so it doesn’t interfere w/my practice. It is great (haven’t needed breakthrough pain meds since I started as well as other things – write me and I’ll explain)
Superhero Headquarters: Denver, Colorado (but I am from DC, VA, NY, OH, IN too).

Name: Kim Byrne (Stmprkb)
Age: 48
Superhero Type: RA and Crohns Gal
Superhero Experience: dx 18 mos ago, still a newbie!?
Superhero Powers: MUST MAINTAIN my POSITIVE ATTITUDE. My goal is to return to work full time as a special ed teacher, Aug 16th. I fear the fatigue will prevent me from being on my A game.. ok, so I need to re evaluate, do I need to be on my A game? I tend to over do, so my A game, may be too high of a goal. I am a dog lover and my black lab has the title of Physical Therapist in the house. She gets me up and moving every day. Whether it be swimming or walking. I was in the competitive ventures of dog sports, but have to let them go.. the dogs seem to love to be with me, competing or not. So, I think this was probably MY GOAL and not their goal! My caregiver, is my wonderful husband, Tom, of 26 years, he is in the learning curve with me, and has taken over a lot of the house chores, he is a retired FF. He is totally in to taking naps, and never complains! I am honored to be on the Superhero Wall of Fame!
Superhero Headquarters:West Palm Beach FL in the pool!

Name: Nikki
Age: 21
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 12 years, officially diagnosed at age 9
Superhero Powers: Studying criminal justice in college, working as a legal assistant and bearing through the pain I wake up to every day to reach my goal of graduating and becoming a paralegal. Also accepting the fact that heels will never be a part of my ensomble!
Superhero Headquarters: Vienna, Virginia

Superhero Powers: Living and growing up with JIA. Went to uni with JIA, did a masters with JIA….erm…did lots with JIA. Worked as a music teacher for a year after graduating but I had to stop because of my arthritis. So now I still sing a bit and knit a lot. I also work voluntary for arthritis care as and when I can. I’ve just had my 3rd joint replacement and waiting for a date for my 4th but life it good.

Name:Dawn
Age: 36
Superhero Type: Think I’m going to save the world with my Sarcoidosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms Girl
Superhero Experience: Pulmonary Sarcoidosis and spreading since October of 2008…Newly diagnosed Rheumatoid Girl..Summer 2011
Superhero Powers: Can still barely do my own housework, have my BSN in Nursing and will be going back to online college for a degree in political science to lobby for animal rights, autoimmune disease funding and research, starting a recommended exercise program, spread faith and hope when I can, try to find the humor in situations, take care of my animals, empathy for others and try to reach out when I can.
Superhero Headquarters: Audubon, Iowa

Name: Jenny Pettit
Age: 25
Superhero Type: Sjogren’s, Localized Scleroderma, Fibromyalgia, Dysautonomia, Raynaud’s
Superhero Experience: 10 years (since diagnosis)/23 years (symptoms)
Superhero Powers: Health Activist for “invisible illnesses” doing online and IRL (in real life) activism on my own and with others, also run my parish youth group and – my most amazing power – hanging onto my job as an auditor (didn’t think I could do it when I was in school)! Also married to wonderful caregiver.
Superhero Headquarters: Philadelphia, PA

Name: Jackie
Age: 32
Superhero Type: Woman with RA and food allergies
Superhero Experience: 15 years
Superhero Powers: Wife of 5 years, mother to our energetic and strong-willed toddler son, caretaker of our cat and aquarium fish, cook, piano player, music lover, nature lover, hiker/walker, and traveler. Walked a half marathon (13 miles) 4 years ago and hope to try it again someday. Still learning to live through the ups and downs with RA as naturally as possible—diet, exercise, and alternative medicine, but occasionally resorting to over-the-counter pain relievers. Not interested in prescription drugs and their side effects! Still working on my attitude and trying to stay positive. It is very challenging being a mother to a young child who can’t understand what I go through everyday and how hard it is to keep up with him! Patience is also hard to have when you’re hurting. Lucky to have a very understanding and supportive husband to help with childcare duties (especially doing the heavy lifting)—He’s MY superhero!
Superhero Headquarters: Michigan (metro Detroit area)

Name: Autoimmunegirl
Age: 46
Superhero Type: Autoimmune Peripheral Neuropathy, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Superhero Experience: 10 + years, 4 years (so far)searching for a diagnosis
Superhero Powers: Ability to say no, I can’t do that and not feel guilty that I’m letting someone else down. 40 hr week IT professional, Mother of 3 (21, 16, 11); Co owner of catering business, amateur photographer, dog owner, Temple webmaster, Temple Board member. Usually just enough energy to get through the week and then do as little as possible on the weekends. Supported by my Superhero FF husband and children, who are learning to live with the new me.
Superhero Headquarters: Quincy, Ma

Name: Marie
Age: 53
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Baby Boomer
Superhero Experience: 4+ years and possibly longer???
Superhero Powers: Healthcare professional still working full time – loving my job, but harder every day to commute 1 hr each way/work 8+ hours, keep up with the house, cooking, etc. Recently dx’d with food allergies – wheat/dairy/eggs and learning to adjust to a new way of eating
Superhero Headquarters: Southern NH, USA

Name: Alyssa
Age: 20
Superhero Type: RA Girl
Superhero Experience: Three years and counting.
Superhero Powers: Living with RA whilst working on an undergrad degree (English/Creative Writing), working full time during summers/holidays and part time through the school year. Creative writer, photographer and traveler.
Superhero Headquarters: Georgia, USA.

Name: Adrienne
Age: old enough!
Superhero Type: Adrienne’s Disease/RA Gal
Superhero Experience: 20 years
Superhero Powers: Being able to laugh through it all, being positive when others are down, and dreaming of all the things I am going to do before I can’t do them!
Superhero Headquarters: In a destination city in the USA

Name: Anna Beth
Age: 20
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Superhero Experience: 5 years
Superhero Powers: Being able to work 25 hrs a week while going to school full time for my BFA with an emphasis in Drawing! I am a strong, positive thinker who loves the arts! As a superhero, I have to give my side-kick some credit too! My fiance, Troy has helped me through my toughest times with my RA! Together we can conquer the stairs!
Superhero Headquarters: Nashville, TN

Name: Cammie
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Superhero Experience: 4 years officially diagnosed under doctors supervision. 1+ years managing it on my own.
Superhero Powers: Mom to 3 college age sons and to my disabled brother. Part time cook and baker. Singer in my church praise team. Work a 40 hour job. Positive outlook in every situation. Try to remain focused on the good and not the bad. Encourager to others.
Superhero Headquarters: Warm and sunny Valley of the Sun USA

Name: Cammie
age: 50
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Superhero Experience: 4 years officially diagnosed under doctors supervision. 1+ years managing it on my own.
Superhero Powers: Mom to 3 college age sons and to my disabled brother. Part time cook and baker. Singer in my church praise team. Work a 40 hour job. Positive outlook in every situation. Try to remain focused on the good and not the bad. Encourager to others.
Superhero Headquarters: Warm and sunny Valley of the Sun USA

Name: BettyBoop
Age: 47
Superhero type:RA gal & Osteoaethritis
Superhero experience:13 plus yrs
Superhero powers:Living with RA,suffering most days but still get up and fight it and take one day at a time,help others,cooking,educate other people on RA
Superhero headquarters:Granite Falls,NC

Name: Kris10
Age: 26
Superhero type: Super Tall Gal with RA & Diabetes
Superhero experience: Almost 1 year
Superhero powers: Wife of 6 years, using every spare moment when my hands cooperate to work on my photography, carrying on with my life, trying to stand tall (6’2″ to be exact) in the face of disease, I may stumble but I will win!
Superhero headquarters: Farmington, New Mexico

Name: Debbie
Age: 46
Superhero type: RA & Sjogrens Diva!
Superhero experience: 10 years
Superhero powers: Wife, mother of three boys, work a full time job, cook, clean, love to go camping and crocheting. But losing the ability to crochet, can only do that on a “good” day.
Superhero headquarters: Exton, Pennsylvania

Name: Erika
Age: 32
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal.
Superhero Experience: Five years.
Superhero Powers: Living with RA and a gaggle of other autoimmune issues, Being the best Mommy I can be, Cooking my pants off, Looking after other people’s children and hopefully influencing them well and LEARNING!!!
Superhero Headquarters: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Name: Theresa aka Tess
Age: 49
Superhero Type: RA Mum-Mum
Superhero Experience: 35 years
Superhero Powers: Living with RA and a host of other autoimmune issue for many years, Trying to bring a brighter outlook to folks with chronic illnesses by sharing stories through Fail First Hurts, Global Healthy Living Foundation; IAAM and other various websites and blogs.
Superhero Headquarters: Cherry Hill, NJ and Bradenton, Florida (I’m a snowbird)

Name: Theresa
Age: 31
Superhero Type: RA Gal
Superhero Experience: 3.5 years
Superhero Powers: Living with RA in New England, high school teacher, college professor, baker, cooker, preserver, writer/blogger (http://theresas-kitchen.blogspot.com/), sister, daughter and friend. I try not to let it rule me, but some days it’s harder than others. I have two cats and a yellow lab Unconditional love is the best from family, friends AND pets!

Name: Sam
Age: 20
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero experience: 8 long years
superhero Powers: Playing guitar every day for the last 8 years of my life, being a full time college student, educating those individuals who think I’m too young to have this disease
Superhero headquarters: Durango, Co

Name: Diana
Age: 55
Superhero Type: SuperGramma with chronic transformed migraines, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, GAD, OCD, depression, AND caregiver for disabled husband who has his own superhero status
Superhero Experience: Lifetime for the migraines, 3-30 years for the rest depending on what we’re talking about
Superhero Powers: I’m a mom/gramma who loves her family dearly, loves the Lord as her Savior, is a former graphics designer (recently had to give it up due to what the fibro and arthritis are doing to me), trying to come to terms with how my body is betraying me even more these past couple years. (My blog: http://heartofknzus.com)
Superhero Headquarters: in the heart of Kansas

Name:SueD
Age: 41
Superhero Type: Fi’Ra’ Fighter Gal
Superhero Experience: Living with RA for 6+ years; Dx since 3yrs
Superhero Powers: Fighting the fires of inflammation, the sparks of pain and the smokey plumes of fatigue… All while helping to care for four family cats (from rescue sites)and going back to school to study to be a Nutrition Practicioner (post-grad).
Superhero Headquarters: Ontario and ‘Newfoundland & Labrador’, Canada

Name: Jamster
Age: 47
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 1 year
Superhero Powers: Determined to fight my nemisis RA without the aid of medications while also battling it’s evil sidekick Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. I’m a wife and mother who continues to work full time while educating myself and others about these 2 evil diseases. Can keep a smile on my face even when the pain gets so intense that I just want to cry.
Superhero Headquarters: NW Indiana

Name: Sandi AKA Sparky
Age:53
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 6 years
Superhero Powers: Maintaining my sense of humour through all this pain and fatigue and realizing I really am not a superwoman and my home doesn’t need to be clean 24/7. And fighting COPD on top of all, this I have tons of inside jokes. Working full time doing Daycare keeps me strong and keeps my mind occupied. Keeping sane through the pain,,, Knowing Im not alone and finding this wonderful sight with people that really understand why I cant open jars and need help with daily living skills has been a god send, God bless us all
Superhero Headquarters: NW Pennsylvania

Name: Christi
Age: 47
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Woman
Superhero Experience: 15 years
Superhero Powers: Wife, and Mother of 2 wonderful daughters. I continue to work full time and I try to stay active and keep a positive outlook, while living with RA.
Superhero Headquarters: Plano, Texas

Name: Little Miss Sunshine!
Age: 39
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Princess
Superhero Experience: Sero-Negative RA for 20+ years, but only diagnosed a few years ago. It was only through determination and perseverance that I finally got a Dx and am now moving forward in my treatment!
Superhero Powers: Complete & total Awesomeness! Strength, perserverence & Rebel to the core! Crafty, all around artistic & creative Domestic Goddess with punk flair, Lucky mommy to two amazing sons 22 & 4, both also struggle with auto-immune disorders, they are my reason for breathing & bring light into every day! Blessed to have found my soulmate, my other half, the love of my life! And he ‘gets it’! Takes care of me and spoils me to no end, even washes my hair for me when I don’t have the strength to do it myself! I refuse to give in, never give up, never surrender!
Superhero Headquarters: Western Oregon

Name: Merri
Superhero Type: Aggressive Rheumatoid Arthritis
Superhero Experience: 4 months
Superhero Powers: Mom of 4 beautiful kids. Boy/Girl twins age 9, Boy age 6 and Girl age 5 months. Both boys have Autism/ADHD, possible Tourettes for one and anxiety disorder. When I say ADHD, I mean, they redefine the H part LOL. I am a writer and seeker of treasures in the bad times of life…Hence, the name of my blog is Treasures in the Dust. Trying to regain less pain so I can go back to crafting.

Name: Karen
Age: 55
Superhero Type: RA
Superhero Experience: Diagnosed age 46 but I know I’ve had it off and on since I was a child.
Superhero Powers: Raising 4 children – 3 of which already have RA; keeping my body mobile and flexible even on days where my body is screaming at me to just stop and lay down; keeping up my drawing and painting skills; never giving in to it all.
Superhero Headquarters: Houston, TX area for 23 years but will always be a San Francisco girl!

Name: Moselle
Age: 26
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 5 Years
Superhero Powers: Living with extremely aggressive RA, being a mom to two boys, discovering hidden strength when none seems to be available, being a supportive wife, making my house into a home.
Superhero Headquarters: Fredericksburg, VA, but home will always be Italy to me.

Name: Tania
Age: 41
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 7 months
Superhero Powers: Living with moderate RA, raising 3 teenager sons who are everything to me, trying to think positive about what Life now holds for me! Hoping to be able to stay in my Job as long as I can as it’s a great distraction for my RA.
Superhero Headquarters: Victoria Australia

Name: Alicia
Age: 45
Superhero Type: Very progressive, agressive RA/CFS/Fibro – My RA is like pac man – chomping my bones and ligaments…dirty rat! Knock it off!
Superhero Experience: 11 years – almost 2 years firm dx of RA (finally!)
Superhero Powers: Hugging! Mom of mostly grown kids! Partner of the world’s best supporter! Certified Life Coach for Teens and Adults, I have a book in the process for Coaching Teens. I love Yoga (chair yoga now!)! Disabled over-achiever….trying to figure out how to manage my new life with RA…instead of just being a Type A! Oh…laughter, humor – you must have it to survive this life. Reading, music, eating m&m’s! Hugs to all the superheros.
Superhero headquearters: New Hampshire, USA

Name: Brenda
Age: 52
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Gal
Superhero Experience: 20 years
Superhero Powers: Holding down a full time job. Writing a blog, as I am also a brain tumor survivor of 3 years. Fighting everyday even though the pain is with me 24/7. It will never beat me. I am stronger than this disease.
Superhero Headquarters: Bismarck, North Dakota

Name: Libby Schou-Kristensen
Age: 52
Superhero type: RA Gal
Superhero Experience: 32 years
Superhero Powers: God has turned my tragedy into a triumph! I enjoy encouraging and inspiring other RA sufferers and so far I have done this by public speaking, writing a book ‘Seeing the Unseen’, making a DVD ’10 Life Lessons’and a CD. I am currently contacting the 51 Rheumatologists in South Africa and placing posters/flyers in the waiting rooms in order to make contact with other RA patients. 13 surgeries (mostly joint replacements) and 9 hip dislocations have not succeeded in making me a victim of this disease. I am winning the war with God’s help and currently experiencing amazing restoration. Life is more than our bodies and I have discovered the joy of a healthy soul and spirit.
Superhero Headquarters: Mtunzini, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa

Name: DJ / Darrell
Age: 23
Superhero type: Rheumatoid Arthritis POTSie Dude
Superhero Experience: about 3 years
Superhero Powers: Maintaining a full time job (w/ some accommodations thankfully) while having RA along with an autonomic dysfunction known as POTS, which adds to the list of symptoms.
Superhero Headquarters: Columbus, Ohio

Name: Harsh Singal
Age: 31
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis Basher
Superhero Experience: 3rd Year
Superhero Powers: A Software Engineer.smiling, having fun. A passionate gamer by heart. What I am restricted to do in real life, I can do it in games
Superhero slogan: Really do not have any!!
Superhero website:
Superhero Headquarters: India (Chandigarh, Bangalore)

Name: Troy
Age: 49
Superhero Type: Working dad and partner. Ex british paratrooper
Superhero Experience: 10 years
Superhero Powers: A complete loony, a great dad to my kids, hard working, national union disablity committee member, and a champion to those less fortunate, great at giving love a cuddles to others.
Superhero Headquarters: Coventry United Kingdom

Name: Andrea
Age: 33
Superhero Type: RA Super Duper like Gary Cooper Gal
Superhero Experience: 7 years
Superhero Powers: Academic nut (not to be confused with macadamia) working on yet another Master’s, this time in the field of Healthcare Administration. Artist, educator, blogger, and fiancee. Power to be out there.
Superhero Headquarters: Raleigh, NC

Name: Lindsay Holland
Age: 29
Superhero Type: Single feminist mother with Rheumatoid Arthritis juggling my career and volunteering to make this world a better place
Superhero Experience: almost 8 years
Superhero Powers: Activist – not afraid to stand up for what is right and tell like it is
Superhero Headquarters: Ontario, Canada

Name: tgal76
Age: 36
Superhero type: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Superhero experience: 6 years
Superhero powers: dealing with semi-controlled RA, anxiety and depression. Brand new to blogging this week, reading, researching and looking after my spoiled rotten fur baby, honey dog Learning to enjoy life, because it’s not all about work. Working on finding ways to enrich and increase my quality of life through health and nutrition. Happy to see I am not the only superhero out here
Superhero headquarters: Vancouver, BC, Canada

Age: 48 years
Superhero Type: THE OVER-DOER
Superhero Experience:18 yrs battling RA & DX’D with Fibromyalgia last year…just to make the war more interesting
Superhero Powers: To laugh instead of cry; build & still work (although not as much); incredible abilities include: raising awareness of the invisible diseases, and strentgh to battle with this predator for almost 2 decades now! I will not be defeated!!!! muahahahaha!!
Superhero’s Lair: Flies between Chicago, IL and SE Wisconsin
“Own the day… 1 day at a time… some days u win… others u lose… remember those WINNING DAYS and applaude your accomplishments!” MDH

Name: Mommy blogger
Age: 36
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Superhero Experience: Symptoms 21yrs, diagnosed 15yrs, a family member to someone with RA for a lifetime.
Superhero Powers: Blogger for RAmyWay.me to raise awareness and provide support for myself and others, Mom of 2 crazy wonderful toddlers living with an RA mommy, Triathlete, and an over achiever that learned to let go of a high paced job to better my, and my family’s, lives!
Superhero Headquarters: Denver, CO

Name: Riko Stan
Age: 44
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Superhero Experience: Was diagnosed almost a year ago.
Superhero Powers: Can go from my bed to the couch in a single crawl. Still in the work force, but looking at long term disability.
Superhero Headquarters: Upstate NY

Name: Tammy
Age: 42
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Superhero Experience: Symptoms since 2001, Diagnosed in August 2010. Finally found a Doctor who helped me!
Superhero Powers: Raising 2 children, who are now 16 & 18 and I’m a very proud mama, work full time as a Certified Pharmacy Technician which consists of long days on my feet, some days are good, some are bad and some are very bad.
Superhero Headquarters: Navarre, Florida

Name: Carrie (Not always Super, but never gives up)
Age:43
Superhero Type: RA warrior, since 07..
Superhero Experience: Mother of 5 boys, wicked laughter,community volunteer, full time Hospice worker.
Superhero Powers: Never thought I had any, always felt as if I was just living in the now, working towards the simplistic goal of raising my boys, lifting others when I can.. The day I knew I was a hero. I found a college essay my son wrote for a scholarship to define a hero, or leader.. He talked of me, he had noticed how each day I woke up in pain but managed to still work, volunteer, and lead them towards their future, it wasn’t always this perfect as you all living with this disease know.. He realized that I was showing them the way, God Forbid they ever encounter an obstacle like this, I was showing them how to deal, how to grieve,and, how to fight, how to continue to just be… That is my superpower.

Name: Kiran
Age:20
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Superhero Experience: I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when I was 11. I recently started a blog to help people better understand arthritis. I’m not a doctor so I won’t be able to tell you what medications are good or bad, but I will be discussing exercises, diets, and my experience with different treatments. No one should feel alone in this, especially a child.http://kiranchattha.wordpress.com

Name: Maggie
Age: 27
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis, blogging fool & craft-inista (like barista but with crafts!
Superhero Power: Im just full of powers. I started a pretty amazing blog about a year ago when I was hurting so bad I had to quit sewing and crafting because of pain, buring and stiffness. It started as a way to keep things I wanted keep in order but was too tired to print out and keep with me (think recepies). It has just kind of taken off. I now write about my adventures with my everyday troubles and funnies, including my side effects on meds. If you cant laugh and share your daily pain-in-the-arse then all you can do is cry. No reason you cant be beautiful, have a good sense of humor AND have chronic pain. If I can handle pain like this I can handle anything, well, except for a week without naps. That I could not handle. I hope I can brighten someone’s day.

Name: Annie
Age: 49
Superhero Type: RA,OA,FM,and Bipolar warrior
Superhero Experience: 12 years
Superhero Powers: Wife, mother, stepmother, daughter, friend, emotional caregiver for fellow bipolars, author, dog lover, volunteer (teach 1st graders to read). I have educated myself on all my conditions and fight them with medication, diet, limited exercise, and faith. I have a good support system and my conditions are fairly well controlled, although I am in pain everyday at least a 4, usually more. I am a support system to my friends with bipolar and RA. It helps to have something positive and productive to do to offset the fact that I can no longer work.

Superhero Type: JRA (I guess its now RA since I’m an adult ), and Bipolar

Superhero Experience: 12 years
Superhero Powers: I’ve tracked all over America, fighting for people who have RA. From being on TV, in the newspapers and magazines countless times, meeting the senate, and eating diner with the OU football couch Bob Stoops, at a banquet with the wealthiest people in my state, Oklahoma. I’ve spent countless nights up till the break of dawn, in pain so bad I cannot sleep, let alone move (on 1-10, normally an 8~9, my normal pain is around a 6, but i have a high tolerance, and many many cooping skills, such as video games). I’ve been the only brother to 4 sisters, most are drastically younger than me, and look to me as an example. Even though I’m in a wheelchair, and cannot move 75% of my body, I’ve had to be a support for my mother at the hardest of times. I do my best to make people laugh, as I believe everyone should. I try to be a role model, and to just be a good person, even when battling with mental troubles, depression, and addiction to my only form of true relief, Morphine. Even when all feels lost, I keep a smile on my face. And I spread one truth that I have learned to trust more than all, “If you have Optimism, you have everything”. And so, I will always have hope, even when the worlds crashing down around me, and so should you.

Name: Samantha
Age: 30
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Superhero Experience: Almost six years.
Superhero Powers: Working full time, Living with RA, Riding horses and blogging about it at http://justaplainsam.blogspot.ca/.
Superhero Headquarters: Nova Scotia, Canada

Name: Diana
Age: 30
Superhero Type: RA Warrior
Superhero Experience: 2 years
Superhero Powers: Cherish now, living today as if it is going to be my last, constantly questioning and looking for answers, coaching on healthy living, writing my blog http://www.myradiary.com/ to help make a difference in lives of people with RA, learning new knowledge everyday,enjoy Korean TV series and lastly, looking good and feeling positive
Superhero Headquarters: Brunei

Age: 74
Superhero Type: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Superhero Experience: Four or so years in ankles; advancing to hardly walking over past 2 months or so
Superhero Powers: Yes, living w/ RA at same time as pumping pedals and creative juices
Superhero Headquarters: Sanford, Florida

Superhero Type: RA
Superhero Experience: Diagnosed almost a year ago; suffering for a few years before that.
Superhero Power: Mother of three; Middle School teacher; wife of husband who has risen to challenges he never bargained for when he said, “..in sickness and in health…I do.” Fatigue fighter, multi-tasker, sister, friend, and daughter. My real superhero power is getting up each day and making lemons out of lemonade.
Superhero Headquarters: Dakota Dunes, SD

Name: Arusa S.
Age: 33
Superhero Type: Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Superhero Experience: Almost all my life. As far as I can remember, I already had it.
Superhero Powers: I live my life as a normal people do, photography, trekking, golfing, any kind of sport activity which i can handle my pain.
Superhero Headquarters: Bangkok Thailand

Age 51
Superhero type: RA and osteoarthritis
Superhero experience: 14 years of RA; the fatigue bothers me the most because it makes me fell lazy and I’m not.
Superhero Powers: I do live my life as normally as possible. I have been a teacher for 29 years, RA didn’t stop that dream. I have 3 grown kids that accepted the things I wasn’r able to do without complaint. (Like run in the parent vs. kids softball game). REalizing that despite RA I am a lucky.
Superhero headquarters: Sussex county, Delaware

Name: Nicole Merensztein
Age: 18 (although at time i feel 85)
Superhero Type: Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Fighter!
Superhero Experience: 5 years.
Superhero Powers: I try to live my life as a normal people would, fighting through the pain and being the most understanding supportive and caring person i can be. When i feel like giving up i like to think two things: one, that i have good days and bad days, today is a bad day but i know that there are good ones to follow. And two, i may have it bad but people have it worse. RA is a disease that you can live a fairly long and normal life with if you fight hard enough. I am lucky to have such an understanding support system.
Superhero Headquarters: New York

Name: Sandy
Age: never did grow up..someone told me I was 51 but I still don’t believe them.
Superhero type: RA, Osteo and “don’t quite fit in the usual pigeonholes”
Superhero Experience: 5+ years since I went bionic 2+ years since I officially got my RA cape – though I’ve been dealing with it for I can’t remember how long!
Superhero powers: I can make security scanners go beep with my bionic titanium bits and cause mayhem… men in uniform then rush to get a hold on my superhero body. Yay.
Superhero HQ: South-East UK, though I am Welsh.

Name: Rachel
Age: 20 in July
Superhero Type: RA and other weird undiagnosed things
Superhero Experience: 2 Years in July
Superhero Powers: Living with RA,Fighting through going to college full time, Trying to live as normal as possible. Love photography. I went hiking the other day for the first time since before my diagnosis and felt amazing for being able to make it through it when I was done.
Superhero HQ: Arkansas

Age:36
Superhero Type: Juvenile RA, Diagnosed at age 18, Have been fighting ever since.
Superhero Experience: 36 Years, But the last two tears have been the worst.
Superhero Powers: Having to deal with the depression that for me is just as painful as anything my joints can do to me. Being so drained after work I can’t even find the energy to clean house, or do the dishes! Being over weight and hating it but not finding the strength to change it. Not taking care of my body when it has failed me so many times. Wanting to change but not having the strength.
HQ: Springville UT

Name: Dori
Age: 40-ish
Superhero Type: RA Gal & Fibro Gal & Rheumatoid Lung Disease Gal
Superhero Experience: 4 years since diagnosis, (suspected superhero for 15+ years)
Superhero Powers: Able to keep a smile on my face while struggling to walk and breathe because I am grateful to be alive. Always finding the bright side in every dire situation and inspiring others to live to the fullest. Trying to find a way to bring awareness & make a difference so that someday children will not have to suffer RA.
Superhero Headquarters: Near Milwaukee, WI

Age: 47
Superhero type: RA diagnosed 4/10/11
Superhero Experience: Been a struggle
Superhero Powers: Patience! I’m on my 5th drug cocktail trying to find one that will work. All have stopped being effective after 3 months. And now it seems that I’m getting Rheumatoid Nodules on my ankles. I have a great Rheumy who is wonderful and doing his very best to put this thing into remission. Trying to give up wheat and processed sugar to help with the inflammation too. It’s always something with this disease!

Age: 28
Superhero Type: psoriatic arthritis
Superhero Experience: years – I’ve had fibromyalgia since early 2000′s, and have had symptoms of the arthritis for around three years – two severely until it was finally diagnosed a month ago.
Superhero Powers: keeping everything balanced. I also have mental health issues, which are exacerbated by the pain, so it’s all a balancing act. I try to maintain my house (my boyfriend works full time) as well as possible and do the shopping when I can.
Superhero HQ – Northwest England

Age: 40
Superhero Type: RA Rookie with purple cape of optimism
Superhero Experience: Officially 2 weeks, wondered what the heck was wrong since January.
Superhero Powers: Courage to fight hard since it was caught early and not be afraid to blast it, I will run, walk or crawl the marathon that has been my goal since taking up running 3 years ago, be open about my illness so I can educate others and empower myself, take care of my body, mind and spirit so the bad days are bearable, find humour in the fact that after 40 years of great health my immune system got bored and is trying to eat me And retire my stubborn, independent Taurus status to accept help, encouragement and love. RA is brutal buts it’s taken me a few days of scrolling to read that I’m in the company of other Superheros to be inspired by. THANK YOU, I needed this.
Superhero Headquarters: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Superhero Type: Scleroderma and Fibromylgia secondary to Chronic Graft Versus Host disease, caused by stem cell transplantation for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (allo-immune rather than auto-immune, but presentation is exactly the same as auto-immune so I hope it’s ok that I’m adding myself to this list!)

Superhero Experience: 7 years

Superhero Powers: Invisibility when necessary, mind reading when possible, super strength about 90% of the time. Am a daughter to the perfect mum, sister to the perfect brother, and married to the perfect man… And I’m still here, so my greatest power is luck.

Name: Sarah
Age: 42
Superhero Type: RA Girl
Superhero Experience: 3 years but recently aggressive not responding to treatment and living with all the side effects that make me sicker than the RA does.
Superhero Powers: Trying to work 25 hours per week which is a struggle, Mum to 3 children 11, 10 and 6 who are Superheros themselves as they are having to help alot more but they love it.
Superhero Headquarters: Christchurch, New Zealand

Name: Aubrey
Age: 22
Superhero type: RA Girl
Superhero Experience: 2 years
Superhero Powers: Division 1 College athlete who went from not being able to take care of myself to finishing college career making All Conference and being only 1 game away from the NCAA tourney. Living a fun life that included traveling, takings classes, and working as a Designer.
Superhero headquarters: The beautiful, busy city of Chicago!

Name: Elizabeth
Age: 16
Superhero Type: JRA girl
Superhero Experience: 4 1/2 years
Superhero Powers: high school student living up to the daily challenges, started an arthritis club for the total of two people I know with JRA (one being myself, we meet for infusions), surviving many medical mysteries, multiple surgeries, spreading the word about JRA, starting a new arthritis blog, playing flute (even when the pain is unbearable), living each day to its fullest
Superhero Headquarters: Texas

Name: Janet (AKA Teflon Woman)
Age: 50 – just
Superhero Type: Multitasking RA/PsA/Spondylitis/FMS/SjS/coeliac Gal
Superhero Experience: probably 30 but only just diagnosed (!)
Superhero Powers: My Teflon shield allows me to wipe it off and stand up to fight another day. 30 adult years of searching not counting mother’s search before that. The search hasn’t changed the experience so I’m an experienced fighter who has had no banner until this week! Motivated to share my experiences with those who don’t understand invisible illness and to support and advocate for those still searching.
Wife, mother of three grown teflon hatchlings, public service manager, church committee chair chic, musician and a little bit crafty.